Panthers blindsided as Bulldogs swoop on superstar with $3.2m deal

The Bulldogs have landed another signing coup, scoring the prized signature of Panthers star Viliame Kikau from 2023.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 03: Viliame Kikau of the Panthers fends off Adam Reynolds of the Rabbitohs during the 2021 NRL Grand Final match between the Penrith Panthers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium on October 03, 2021, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

The Bulldogs have landed another signing coup, scoring the prized signature of Panthers star Viliame Kikau from 2023.

The Bulldogs have reportedly beaten out the Cowboys and St George Illawarra to secure one of NRL’s best edge forwards on a four-year deal.

The contract is worth around $800,000 per season and eclipsed the Dragons’ three-year offer, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Penrith officials were confident they’d keep the 26-year-old, who has a close relation with Bulldogs coach and former panthers assistant Trent Barrett.

The Dogs collected the wooden spoon this year in Barrett’s first season at the helm but he went to work overhauling the roster. He’s added Matt Burton, Brent Naden, Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Dufty, Paul Vaughan, Tevita Pangai Jr, Josh Cook, John Asiata, Max King and Braidon Burns for the 2022 season.

The Dogs are also in the mix to sign Eels hooker Reed Mahoney and are quickly building one of the most star-studded squads in the NRL.

Kikau is one of the best back-rowers in the game. (Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)

Kikau has played in the past two grand finals for Penrith, winning this year, and has made 98 appearances for the club since debuting in 2017.

The Panthers were expected to retain Kikau and will disappointed by his defection.

“We’re very confident that we will be able to come to an agreement with his management and have him on the roster for another three or four years as well,” Panthers chief executive Brian Fletcher said in September.

“Every indication is that he’ll be staying.

“A lot of players like to take a little bit of a discount to play with a side that’s going well, so I think he comes under that category.”

Kikau has played 11 Test matches for Fiji and considered one of the most exciting players in the game.

Originally published as Panthers blindsided as Bulldogs swoop on superstar with $3.2m deal